Butter
Yes, indeed. This is a movie about butter -- a butter sculpting competition to be precise. Not something you see all that often, right? But I have not gone out…
Pitch Perfect
Gleeks will rejoice in Pitch Perfect. It’s basically Glee goes to college – a cappella style. But even non-Gleeks can enjoy this one, thanks to a fun, diverse and talented…
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The problem with being a wallflower is that wallflowers can come and go virtually undetected. So while I generally liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower when I saw it…
The Intouchables
The Intouchables is my new favorite French feel-good film! Based on a true story, I must admit, the premise sounded like a total downer. A rich Parisian quadriplegic hires an…
For a Good Time, Call…
This movie is somewhat entertaining, yet very odd. I don’t know quite what to make of it – or who to recommend it to. Adult women mostly (18+). The men…
Ruby Sparks
I went into this film knowing absolutely nothing about it, except that Mainstream Chick had seen it and thought maybe as the Arty One, I would get something from it…
Premium Rush
Premium Rush is a fun ride – on two wheels- without brakes. It’s sort of like Speed on a bicycle. The film moves at a steady clip, doesn’t make you…
Sparkle
Sparkle falls far short of the total package that is Dreamgirls. But the music is still infectious, fun, and occasionally even powerful enough to make you forgive and forget the gaping holes in story…
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
The Odd Life of Timothy Green is pure Disney. It’s simple, sweet and sappy with a healthy mix of humor and heart. It’s not a must see, but it’s still…
Hope Springs
I had high hopes for Hope Springs. But the film falls flat. The story and the characters are certainly real and relatable. But as in life, real and relatable can be…
Celeste and Jesse Forever
“It’s the perfect break-up.” That’s what Celeste and Jesse tell their friends and themselves. They were married and now they’re getting divorced but they say they’re still “best friends.” Can…
Moonrise Kingdom
You know from the first frame of Moonrise Kingdom that you are watching one of Wes Anderson's movies. They're not like anyone else's. The textures are more textured, the children…
Magic Mike
Magic Mike is a movie with a split personality. It’s raucous fun that morphs into something surprisingly non-superficial (relatively speaking). Of course, if you’re in it strictly for the eye…
People Like Us
People Like Us will have to fight for attention and word of mouth. But it's a very satisfying departure from the loud, crazy, crude, animated, 3D, superhero, star-studded or simply…
Brave
First, the good news: Brave centers on strong female characters. It’s visually appealing. And it does a fine job illuminating the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. The bad news: it’s…